Means for dephlegmating vapors



Oct. 30, 1951 w. T. WHATLEY 2,573,633

MEANS FOR DEPHLEGMATING VAPORS Original Filed Aug. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l QINVENTOR. W/LL/AM T WHATLEY BY flhwzy A TTORWE Y Oct. 30, 1951 Original Filed Aug. 27, 1949 W. T. WHATLEY MEANS FOR DEPHLEGMATING VAPORS 3 SheeEs-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

W/LL/AM 7. WHA TLEY A TTOR/VE Y 1951 w. T. WHATLEY MEANS FOR DEPHLEGMATING VAPORS 3 She ets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 27, 1949 FIG. 7

- FIG. 4.

F/& .9.

INVENTOR. WILL/AM TWHATLEV flu ATTORNEY patented Got. 30, 1951 William T. Whatley, Port Arthur, Tex.

Original application August 2'7, 1949, Serial No. 112,755. Divided and this application July 3, 1950, Serial N0. 171,925

3 Claims. (Cl. 183 104) This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 112,755, filed August 2'7, 1949, now abandoned.

The invention concerns certain improvements which have been incorporated in a system for distilling sea water as hereinafter described. It

ingunder full steam or lying in port or maneu involves improvements of method as Well as apparatus, all of such improvements being related and cooperating to produce a common result. Although the invention is intended more particularly for use in the distillation of sea water, as on ships, it is applicable also to the distillation of water generally and for other purposes.

In the past a number of systems have been devised for the distillation of sea Water aboard ship, but as far as is known none of them has been entirely successful. Some of the systems now in use are either too costly for continuous operation or have other disadvantageous features, and such systems are used, if at all, on an emergency basis only.

In the operation of ships heretofore it has been necessary to carry all water used, including water for the boilers in the case of steamships, and a saving of valuable cargo space can be effected by distillation of sea water. The need for purchasing water while in port can be eliminated also by this means. v

In the distillation of sea water aboard ship it is desirable to employ exhaust steam and waste heat from other sources as far as practicable. But ordinarily the supply of waste heat from all sources is limited, and it has been necessary heretofore to use considerable quantities of live steam also, which results in increased fuel consumption. In some systems the distillation of sea water is carried out under vacuum in order to lower the temperature required.

In some systems now in use the process for distilling sea Water is intimately associated with and dependent upon the operation of the ships main power plant for cooling as well as heating. The process is affected not only by the temperatures of the heating and cooling fluids but also by the volumes thereof which may be available. It is also affected by variations in temperature of the cold charge. All of these factors are difficult to regulate in such systems, and this is particularly true when the operation of the main power plant is curtailed, as when the ship is in port or maneuvering.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the type described which is substantially complete in itself and which may be operated equally as well whether the ship is proceedvering, and which is not affected adversely by variations in sea water temperatures throughout the world. It is also an' object of the invention to provide asystem which is applicable to motor vessels as well as steamships.

In the distillation of seawater the density of the resulting brine is increased as evaporation thereof proceeds, and scale deposits are formed on the heating coils of the evaporator. This reduces the heat transfer efficiency of the coils. It has been the practice heretofore to discard continuously a portion of the brine in order to maintain the brine remaining in the system at a predetermined maximum density. This tends to minimize scale deposition and to produce distilled water of good quality. But it also results in considerable heat loss, and excessive brine densities are sometimes tolerated for that reason.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which sea water charged to the process is passed in heat interchange relation with the hot brine discarded from the process, thereby effecting a substantial recovery of heat from the brine. The process of the invention may be operated with relatively low brine densities by making it possible to discard relatively large quantities of brine from the system without excessive loss of heat. Thus the deposition of scale on the heating coils is minimized and distillate of good quality is assured. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide a system in which a part of the charge is cold sea water which is passed in heat interchange relation with the vapors generated in the process, thereby effectively cooling and condensing the vapors while heating the charge. This permits the volume as well as the temperature of thecooling water to be definitely controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a speedy and effective method for removing scale deposits from the heating coils of the evaporator, in systems of the type described. Methods which have been devised heretofore for that purpose have been time consuming and of doubtful efficiency, ordinarily involving a complete shutdown of the equipment for a period of several hours.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a system whichis resistant to priming and in which contamination of the distillate with salt water is effectively prevented. The invention includes an improved evaporator and dephlegmator having a novel combination of bafiies and drains adapted to effectively remove entrained liquid from the vapors.

I A novel feature of the invention is the provision of a vapor line having in conjunction therewith a solenoid operated valve adapted to close the line upon being actuated by a salinity cell in they may be readily installed in and removed.

therefrom.

An advantageous feature of the. invention-is that there is no drainage to the bilge, all. ofv the material discarded from the process being forcibly discharged overboard, preferahl-y below.

the water line; I

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that the system requires relatively few pumps. air into the systein which interferes with the operation Of'th pumps'andiscapable of alfecting the ships main power plant as well as the water distillation/systemj V V The system described hereinis simple and reliable in operation and may be operated largely by use of automatic controls: The equipment involved requires a comparatively small investment and the operating cost is relatively small. 'Iheinvention will be. readily understood by referring to' the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which: V

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation illustrating apparatus suitable for carrying out 1 the process of the invention,

Fig.2 is an enlarged view in elevation,,p ar'tlyin section, showing a portionjof the apparatus indicated in Fig, 1.

Fig, '3 is a view in elevation-taken on the line 4310? F 2'.

Fig. 4 is a, sectional plan view taken on the line 4'.4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '5 is' asection'al plan view'ta-ken on the line "fif5"of-Fig. 2.

Figidis a sectional plan view taken on the line-,fi -fi of Fig. '2. r

Fig. '71 is, a 'sectionahplan view taken on the line 'I'- -'I' of Fig. '3." 1 Y V Fig." 8 is an. enlarged sectional view in elevation talr'enon the line 8"8-of Fig. 7.

' Fig; 9 is an enlargedsectional view in elevation taken on the line 9.9 of Fig.7. 7

Iteferring to the drawing, acombined evaporator and"dephlegrnator I is'provided which is connected by a vapor line 2' to a condenser 3': Condensate fromithe condenser 3" is delivered-by line t'to'jan accumulator drum 5'. The vapor space ofjthe accumulator drum 5' is connected by line 6.' to a jetpump "I; whereby the system is maintained, under vacuum. Usually aboard steamships a vacuum line is available in conf nection with the ship's main power plant; such .va'cuumline'beingthe equivalentof the jet pump 77 Liquid is withdrawn from the accumulatordrum 5; thru. line, 8fby thenaction of pump 9. Alternatively the. pump 91may be eliminated and thecondensate may-be delivered-to storage tanks by, gravity.

A portion ofthe chargeto the process is cold seawatenjwhich is first passed'inheat exchange relation with vapors, delivered to the condenser 3, beingjdelivered to the condenser 3 thruline I'Iliby the action oipumpfl I; Aboard'ship there is,u sually asanitary, linewhich may be used as a convenient sourceflof cold'salt' water under pressure, the sanitary line being the equivalent This tends to prevent the leakage of of the line no and the pump II. The partially heated charge is withdrawn from condenser 3 by line IZ and delivered to a heat exchanger I3 where it is passed in heat exchange relation with hot brine withdrawn from the evaporator I as hereinafter described. The portion of the charge so heated is withdrawn from; the heat exchangeraw by line I14,,an'd at this point it is combinedwith an additional portion of charge ,vvhich may consist of partially heated seawater previously used as cooling water in the ships 'main-condenser, the latter being introduced to theprocess thru line I5. A water leg I6 is provided whereby a portion of the condenser water movinathruline I 5;may be collected for use in theiprocess, the-remainder going overboard. The

- combined charge-isdelivered by line H to a heater I8 where it is further heated as necessary by steam delivered to the heater I8 thru line I9. The heater I8 may be bypassed with all or part of the charge if desired. The heated charge is delivered to-the evaporator Ithru' line 20, a liquid level regulator 2 I being provided to maint'aina constant-level in the evaporator I as indicated by the dotted line 22; r

A portion of thehot brine is-continuously discharged fromthe evaporator l'thru line 23. The

line 23=deliversthebrine to- 'a scale trap 24,'where the'solidmaterial is settledout. The brine is withdrawn from the scale trap 24 thru line .25 and'delivered to the heat exchanger I3-whereit is used to heat a portion o-fthe. charge as above described. Thereafter it is discharged overboard, preferably below the water line, thru lines ZS and 2!- by the action of pump 28. Alternatively a jet pump may be substituted for the pump 28, cold salt water-under pressure, as from the sanitary line, beingusedto activate the jet pump. Use; of ajet pump is preferable as it eliminates leakage of air; intoQthe-system, thus preventing air locks which interfere with operation of the pumps.

Steam-maybe delivered to the evaporator I and the -line23- thru lines 25% and 3B for use in removing scale frontthe heating coils as hereinafter described and for; cleaning the scale trap 25.: A line-3f is -pr'ovided 'for di's'charging the contents of the scale trap 24-overboard during cleaning, theline 25' being-bypassed during this operation. Similarly, steam-may be delivered to the heat exchanger I 3 thru line 32. isprovided for discharging" the'contents" of the heat exchanger I3 over-board during cleaning; the heat exchanger I3- being bypassed and the line 25 being-connected=directly to line 21 during this operation.

' The evaporator and-'dephlegmator-I comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical-vessel which is divided-into an'=upper-section and-a lower-section by'a. baffle 34as'-hereinafter described. Vapors are generated in the lower section and the re sulting vapors are 'dephlegmated in the-uppersection; r r

A bundle of heatingtubes 35is provided in the lowersection ofthevessel I-. The--heatingtubes 35 arehelicaland-arearranged in side" by side relation to'each other; being joined at their ends to headers 361 and 3-1. The headers -36- and 31' are semi-circular, and-the tubes 3-5'-are divided 'by the header'36' -into an insiderow'andfan outside row. A steam inlet 38. connects with" the inside row and a steam outlet-39 connects with the outside row, the two. rows being: connected bythe header 3T; The'tubabundle is-reinforcedbytie rods ctr-which are joined" at their" ends" to the A line- 33 headers 36 and 31 and spaced about the periphery thereof; The headers 36 and 31 are provided with. downwardly extending foot-like, member: 4| which slidably engage horizontally disposed channel-like members 42, the channel-like members.42 being rigidly secured within the vessel 1. An opening is provided inone side of the vessel I whereby the tube bundlemay be inserted in and withdrawn from the vessel, the opening being closed by a cover member 43. The cover member 43 is secured to the vessel I. by means ofbolts 44. "The header 36 is rigidly secured to the cover member 43 by means of bolts 45 whereby the tube bundle and the cover member 43 may be handled as a unit-in inserting the tube bundle in the vessel I and, withdrawingflit therefrom. The steam inlet 38 and the steam outlet 36 extend thru the cover member 43. A pair of dolly wheels 46 are secured to the .cover-member '43 and adapted to support the cover member .43 and one end of the tube bundle while inserting the tube bundle in the vessel I and withdrawing it therefrom. The baffle 34 is conically shaped, beinginclined upwardly from the circumference thereof. toward the center. A plurality of radially. extending slots 41 are provided in the baiile 34-whereby vapors may pass from the lower sectionof the vessel I to the upper section thereof. The slots 41 are staggered with respect to each other, and eachof them'is covered by a-hood-likemember 48 which is adapted to deflect the-vapors outwardly and downwardly toward the circumference of thevessel I. For convenience and simplicity the hood-like members 48 may be made ofangle iron and may be triangular in horizontal as well as vertical cross section.- 1 I "A second conically shaped baflle 49 is positioned directly above the baflle. The'bafile '49'is provided with a central opening'which is surrounded by an upstanding annular flange 50. A plurality of depending concentric annular bafiles 5| are secured at their upper edges to the bafile 49 and tend to deflect vapors passing, inwardly and upwardly toward the central opening. I

A thirdconioally shaped bafile 52 is positioned directly abov e the bafile 49. The baflle 52 is provided with perforations 53 adjacent its circumference, and is provided also with a centralopening which is surrounded by a depending annular baffle 54. The baffle 54 is secured at its upper edge to the'bafile 52- and tends'to-deflect vapors passing outwardly and upwardly toward the perforations 53. A fourth conically shaped baffle 55 is positioned directly above the baiiie' 52, the diameter of the baffle 55 being smaller than that of the vessel I. Interposed between the bafiles 52 and 55 are three concentric rows of bafiles 56, 51 and 58 which are staggered with respect to each other, the baiiles 56 and 51 being T-shaped in horizontal cross section and the baffles 58 being channelshaped. The bafiles 56,51 and 58 are joined at their upper and lower edges to the bafiles 52 and 55 and tend to deflect vapors passing outwardly toward the periphery of the vessel I.

The baffles 49 and 52 are provided with downspouts 59 and 66, respectively, whereby liquid collecting adjacent the periphery of the baflles 49 and 52 will be caused to pass downwardly to the baffle immediately below, finally draining to the scale trap 24 as hereinafter described.

A dome 6| is superimposed above the vessel I, and a plurality of inclined bafiies 62 are positioned therein for the further dephlegmation of vapors; The baffles 62 are positionedbii above theother and on alternate sides of the dome H. The lower end of the vapor line 2 extends downwardly into the vessel I and then upwardly again into the. dome 6|, thebaflles 62 being arranged around it. The arrangement is such that vapors are caused to pass upwardly into the dome6l from the vessel I, around the outside of the vapor line 2, and then downwardly and upwardly again thru' the vapor line 2. A drain pipe 63 is connected to the vapor line 2 at its lowermost point. The drain pipe 63. is connected also .to admin pipe 64 which communicates with the interior of the vessel I immediately. above and adjacent the periphery of the baflle 34. The lower end .of the drain pipe 63 is connected to the line :23, which in turn drains tothe scale trap 24. Aplurality' of inclined baflles 65 are positioned in the vapor. line 2 between the vessel I and. the condenser 3 for further dephlegmation of. vapors. A valve 66 is positioned in the vapor line 2,?the valve 66 beingoperable manually aswell as by solenoid. A salinity cell 61. is positioned in the vapor line 2 above the valve 66, and the arrangement is such that the valve 66 is closed by action of the solenoid in response to the presence in the vapor line 2 of salt water or vapors. i .In the operation of the system liquid collecting in the upper portion of the vessel I as well as in the vapor line 2 drains immediately to the scale trap .24. This arrangement tends to. prevent priming and the distillate is further prevented from becoming contaminated with salt waterby action ofthe solenoid operated valve 66.

r The distillation process is .carried out under vacuum as above described, and the charge is preheated to a temperature approximating the temperature at which water is vaporized at the low pressureobtaining in the evaporator. Thus the temperature of the charge entering the evaporator may be in the neighborhood of 146 F., assuming that the evaporator is maintained under 28":0f vacuum. The remaining heat required for distillation is supplied by the heating coils inthe evaporator. Steam used in the heater [8 as well as in theheating coils of the evaporator I is-exhaust steam, supplemented as necessaryby live steam. Water resulting from condensation of steamis recovered;

The charge is preferably introducedintoathe evaporator I immediately above the liquid'level. The heating coils are at least partially immersed in liquid, a portion of the heating coils preferably being positioned in the vapor space above the liquid levelwhereby they tend to dry the vapors and to separate unvaporized liquid therefrom.

' The invention includes a novel method for removing scale which is deposited on the heating coils as evaporation of the brine proceeds. The method of removing the scale involves shock treatment of the scale by subjecting it alternately to extremes of temperature as well as pressure as hereinafter described. The invention contemplates that bycontinuously discarding a relatively large portion of the brine the operation may be carried out for long periods of time without interruption of the process to remove scale from the coils. Suflicient brine is continuously discarded to maintain the density of the brine remaining in the system at about /32 and preferably not greater than /32. This results in the production of distillate of good quality. Preferably the operation is continued until a substantial deposit of scale has formed on the heating coils.

, ls-being under vacuum;

drawn intoethe'. vessel l thru the line tl by the thereof;-

1', V The irrethudiofiremovingi'scaleafrommhe heating cuils is a's followsz-tThervalveWis c1osed andlpresl-J sure: isza-llowedi to builds. up vin the vessel LV 1 a pressure'relief value? fiarbeing provided: for safety;

Afteriiaipressure of abouti30ipoundsglforexample; haslbeenigenerated withinlthezvesselil the change actionoftth'e applied vacuum; the cold wateri'cool ing the outsideofz thezheatings coils while' th'ez ineside; thereof? is" being: heated: vigorousiyrwith steami'. Thet-cycle. is repeated several times; the entire-operation: being; completed within a' -"rela V tivh short-time.

. The invention-vmayv 'be' mbdifi'edin various ways without departing; front the spirit and ScQpe '1.;In apparatus of the characters described;- means for dephlegmating; vapors "comprising, a vertically disposed cylindrical vessel, a pair 'of conicallyrshapedibafiiespositioned-withinthe ves selaancl rdisposed; onexab'ove :the' other, each of the conicali bafliestbeing inclined upwardly from the circumferencethereof toward theiceriter, 13116 163- erm'ost: conical:bafile?being :perforated adjacent its circumference'a'nd having-j a' central. operiingrsu-r roundedby a d'ependingzannular'baflie; the uppermost conicalibafile-being smallerin-diameter than the lowerzone',ianda plurality: of battles interposed between?- th'ec two conical bafli'es, the last menti oned baflies'Jbe-ing :"dispo'sed vertically: and being" joined: atitheirrupper: and: loweriedgesrto the? ad jacent conical baffles;

2111i? pparatus of the: character described; means: for" dephlegmating-r vapors comprising fa vertically: clisposedi cylindrical vessel, a SBI-iS'f-Of four 'ccnically' shaped b'afiles positionedwithin the vessel and disposed ionei'abovetthe other; .each of the conicalibafiies 'being inclined: upwardly 'frcrn' thercircumferencez thereof toward the center;...the

lowermost of the conical bafils benigiprovided witheaplflralityrof radially:extending:slots; the

- slots beingf staggerediwith' respect to eachother andreach of them: being r covered? by 4 a: hood-like member which: is: triangularin-horizontal 'as well aswentical crosssection, the second c'onical baffle having at central opening surrounded Ibry: an up; standin'gcannular :fiange; a -plurality.;-of.' depending concentric'armularnbafllesibeing secured-attheir upper edees to the second conical bafiiathe" third conicai baffle being provided-"with perforations adjacent its circumference and having: a central opening surrounde by a: depending annular bafile; the fourth conicall'baflie being'otsmaller diameter than the others, and'a' plurality-'of'bafllesinterposed between the two uppermost conical bafile's; the last mentione'd ba'files being: disposed vertically and;- being joinedat their upper and lower edgesto'the adjacent conical bafiiesi 3; apparatus of" the character described;- means fondephlegma'ti'ng vapors: comprising. avertically disposed cylindrical vessel, a seriesaof four conically Shapedbafiles positioned withi'n the vessel and disposed' oneabove'theother, each of theconical bafile's being inclined upwardly from the circumference thereof toward the: center, the lowermost of the conical bafiles being provided with: a plurality ofradially extending 'slotspthe slots being: staggered with respect to each other and eachof them being covered by ahood-like member Which is-triangular in horizontal as well as vertical cross section, the second conicalbafli'e having. a central opening; surrounded by 'an upstanding: annularflange, a plurality of depending concentric annular baffles being secured at their upper edges to the second=conical battle,- the third conical baflle' being providedwithperfora tions adjacent its circumference and havinga v REFERENCES CITED The followingreferencesare of record in the file of this atent? v UNITED STATEST ATENTS Number Name 7 Date 971,258 Dunn Sept. 27,1910 1,319,574 D iSante- Oct.- 21,1919 1,737,648 Edsall Dee 3, 1929 1,934,674- Lichtenthaeler- Nov. '7, 1933 FOREIGN IF'ATENTS Number Country I 1 .Date' Switzerland May 16; 1942 

